Best Sketchbooks For Markers

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Finding the best sketchbook for pen and ink can be difficult. The same can be said for markers. There are so many sketchbooks and sketchpads out there. However, only a select few can handle markers.

Determining what sketchbook meets your needs will depend on a few things. First, what kind of marker are you working with, and do you blend or layer. Second, which works hand-in-hand with marker types, is the type of paper. Third, is the size of book you prefer. Finally is the price, and value for money. Read on to see our recommendations.

RENDR Hardbound Sketchbook

This compact sketchbook from Crescent Creative lives up to the hype! It features high-quality patented paper that will not show through or bleed through so you can use both sides of the page.

This book is perfect for all kinds of markers including Sharpie, Copic, Prismacolor and Tombow. It can also handle paint pens like Posca. The only downside is that it does not lay completely flat. Overall, if you prefer a compact hardbound book, this is our recommended option.

Leda Art Supply Sketchbook for Artists

This high-quality sketchbook from Leda Art Supply is a worthy option for marker use. The pros are that it is compact, portable, with smooth paper texture and a really nice cover. The cons are that it does bleed-through. Especially with Copic markers. This is something that can be mitigated by inserting a sheet of paper between the pages.

Overall, this book looks and feels amazing. It is a great all-around sketchbook for most markers. However, I would consider other books with the thicker paper if you do heavy blending or layering.

Copic Markers Sketchbook

If you like working with Copic markers, this sketchbook is worth a try. The reviews on this book, however, seem to be a bit mixed. The pros are that it is the only book optimized for Copic markers, wire-bound, landscape format, and lays flat. In addition, it has extremely smooth paper that is absorbent enough for blending.

In terms of cons, the pages do bleed-through. Even though Copic claims the paper is bleed-resistant. Overall, it lays flat and is great for blending. Just remember to put a blank sheet over paper between the pages to handle the bleed-through.

Canson XL Series Bristol Pad

If you prefer working on sketchpads over sketchbooks, the Canson XL Series is a great option for marker use. It lays flat and pages can be removed easily.

This book features 100-pound smooth paper that does not bleed-through. However, if you do heavy blending or layering, it does show on the backside of the page. The only downside is that it comes with only 25 sheets.

Canson Artist Series Pro Layout Marker Pad

This marker pad from Canson is a great sketchpad for tracing, as it features 50, 80 pound semi-transparent smooth sheets. It is ideal for someone who needs a thin enough paper for tracing while having no bleed.

Like the other books we recommend, there is minimal bleed-through if you do heavy blending or layering. This paper is good for Copic and Prismacolor markers. One thing to be aware of when layering with this paper is that you will have to wait a few minutes for the ink to dry.

Overall, this book has great value considering its good quality paper and the number of sheets you get.

Crescent Creative Products RENDR Lay-Flat Soft Cover Sketchbook

This sketchpad from Crescent Creative uses the same paper as their hardbound book. It has a high-quality patented paper that will not show through or bleed through so you can use both sides of the page.

Honestly, the paper is amazing! This book is perfect for all kinds of markers including Sharpie, Copic, Prismacolor, and Tombow. It can also handle paint pens like Posca. If you want to see if these Rendr books live up to the hype, this one is better if you like a pad over a book design.

Bee Paper Company Bleedproof Marker Pad

Ideal for Copic markers, this sketchbook has smooth, high-quality paper that will not bleed through. Because the paper is so smooth, heavier ink can leave splotches. You just need to watch your strokes and let the ink dry when layering.

Same as the other pads, you get the benefits of the pages laying flat, and removable pages. Overall, this sketchpad is ideal for artists who like blending.

What Should Be Considered When Choosing The Best Sketchbook For Markers?

In order to determine what sketchbook is best for markers, we should look at the judging criteria. Yes, you probably want thicker paper to reduce bleed-through. But there are other considerations. And every artist has different needs. Let’s cover what to look out for.

Paper Weight:

Probably the most crucial for marker use, paper usually has to be thick, or heavy in weight. This generally reduces bleed through.

Sketchbooks vs Sketchpads:

Sketchbooks are great if you prefer to keep your art in one place. Although there are spiral-bound books with perforation, so you can tear out pages if needed. Sketchbooks that are not spiral bound generally do not lie flat. Sketchpads, on the other hand, lie flat and give you the option to tear out pages. Overall, it comes down to your own usage.

Paper Texture:

Paper texture plays an important role in how ink reacts with the page. Usually, markers work best on smooth paper. However, if you are doing a lot of layering and blending, smooth or non-absorbant paper can cause the ink to pool and streak.

Number of Pages:

How many pages you get in a sketchbook should be assessed with the price. But the quality of the paper is the real key. Having fewer pages that are of high quality and do not bleed is better than more pages of lower quality.

Binding:

If you opt for sketchbooks that lie flat, spiral-bound books or glue-bound sketchpads are the best options for you. Hardbound sketchbooks, however, are usually more durable. On the other hand, you can also remove pages easier with spiral-bound and glue-bound sketchpads.

Size:

Sketchbook size will depend on your needs. Do you create in large format or small? Does your book need to fit into a backpack? Or is it just for at-home use?

Conclusion

After all our research, we found that there are plenty of options for marker use. They all do similar jobs, but in different ways. All these books have paper that is smooth and limits bleed-through. What book is best for you will come down to the subtleties in how you are going to use it.

My recommendation is to know the intended use case and your personal preferences first. After that, look through our list again to see what best meets your needs.

If you are looking for high-quality art markers that professionals use, check out our post:
Best Art Markers For Professionals